Three in Mt. Lebanon Commissioners race

In the race for commissioner, Mt. Lebanon voters will find three names on the ballot this fall: Steve Silverman, Jack Doyle and Dave Brumfield.

Silverman, the Democratic candidate, and Doyle, the Republican, are vying for the Ward 2 seat, while Brumfield, the Ward 4 incumbent, is running unopposed.

Even though this is Steve Silverman’s first campaign for an elected office, he has experience working with Mt. Lebanon government as chair of the municipality’s Pension Investment Advisory Board from 2009-2013, and with the Parking Facilities Advisory Board. He also served on the Mt. Lebanon Tax Commission.

Silverman, who holds an MBA in Management Planning and Control from The George Washington University, is controller, vice president of purchasing, and co-owner of local manufacturer General Wire Spring Co. He said his background in business and working with different governmental boards gives him a good skill set to do the job of commissioner.

“I want to do more for Mt. Lebanon,” said Silverman. If elected, some of his goals are to maintain safe, quality residential neighborhoods, promote economic development, improve pedestrian and vehicular safety, and upgrade the township’s parks and fields based on needs and affordability.

Married for 18 years, and with three daughters, who currently attend Mt. Lebanon schools, Silverman is a coach and sponsor for the Mt. Lebanon Girls’ Softball Association. He is also treasurer of the Veterans’ Breakfast Club.

Also in the race for Ward 2 commissioner is Republican candidate Jack Doyle. Retired from Eastman Chemical, Doyle said he wants to give back to the community and the taxpayers.

A mechanical engineer with a BS from Carnegie Mellon University, Doyle said that as an engineering manager he put together a lot of budgets. Noting that 40 percent of the municipality’s spending is in capital improvements and maintenance, Doyle said he brings experience that could be used to improve those areas of the budget.

Doyle said one of the things that distinguish Mt. Lebanon from neighboring communities is the uptown district and Beverly Road shops. If elected, he wants to work to keep those areas vital and alive and enhance the community feel of Mt. Lebanon. Doyle also wants to keep the township’s 10-year comprehensive plan in front of the board to keep the community moving forward.

A resident of Mt. Lebanon for over 35 years, Doyle has been married for 41 years and has two adult daughters, both Mt. Lebanon graduates, and four grandchildren.

Running unopposed in Ward 4 is current commissioner Dave Brumfield. Brumfield said his biggest focus for his second term as commissioner is make a concerted effort for the board to think of the long-term issues affecting the township, especially infrastructure.

We need to set things in place to take care of items like road reconstruction and storm water management so that future commissioners will always be in the position to take care of infrastructure needs said Brumfield.

Commenting on the recently completed comprehensive plan, Brumfield said he would like to use the plan as a report card for the commission. He explained that Mt. Lebanon’s comprehensive plan is broken down by measurable goals, adding that the board should be striving to meet those goals.

“It would be a good thing if the community holds us to it,” said Brumfield.

Married with two children, Brumfield holds a JD from Duke University Law School and is an attorney at Alpern Schubert PC. He is active as a volunteer with Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church and Mt. Lebanon Lacrosse Association.